Reply #5: the FIFA rankings are based on Regional Play [View All]

since CONCACAF is arguably the easiest region (besides Mexico and the US, no one gets any respect, even fellow qualifiers Costa Rica and Trinidad and Tobago. Since the US gets to play softies over and over in qualifiing (through no fault of our own, it's simple geography), we get an artificially high ranking.

If the US had played against the Czechs the way we did against Italy, this would be a much, much different group. When we come to play the way we are capable of, we can beat almost anyone on a level field (like everyone else, we'd need Brazil to have a really bad day, like maybe going to the wrong stadium) Sure, we can't beat Argentina, England, Spain or the like when they are at their best, but on any given day, we probably can now. The difference between us and them is that when they have a bad day, they still have the talent to beat other good teams, we simply don't. We need to come to play hard and together, or we are not even in the top 25.

We didn't deserve a win, we still haven't scored a goal (ever in Europe, by the way) but sometimes it takes luck, and skill to capitalize on other's mistakes. if you put the ball inside the box often enough, and well enough, eventually you get the breaks, and it's important to note that finally the US was in that position. You make your own luck, regardless of refereeing or conditions, and for the first time in a long time, the US made their own luck, good and bad. It was enough.